A passive suction cup gripper with a trigger-release mechanism

Suction grippers have gained widespread use in numerous industrial applications due to their simple mechanism and ease of operation. This study introduces a gripping mechanism employing passive suction cups that has the potential to be used with existing robot grippers to enhance their performance. A standout feature of this gripper is the ’trigger-release’ mechanism. The gripper operates in two main stages: First, small inner protrusions act as primary pressure points, ensuring a secure grip on the object. Second, to release the object, negative pressure is generated within the gripper’s chamber, causing the suction cup to retract toward the protrusions, making the suction cup loose adhesion. This design makes the gripper well-suited for pick-and-place tasks. During its development, two design variables were assessed to gauge the maximum suction force. Following the design phase, three silicone variations with different Shore hardness levels were employed to investigate their impact on suction force. Also, the trigger-release mechanism was tested in terms of how fast the mechanism responds to negative pressure, and if it is capable of releasing gripped objects. The gripper’s adaptability was further assessed through object grip tests, leading to its integration with a parallel gripper to enhance its effectiveness and expand its range of functions.